Newark Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

When riding a motorcycle you may feel a sense of freedom, but you are also at a heightened risk to be injured or killed in an accident. Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident than someone in a car.

When you are involved in a crash involving a motorcycle chances are you experienced severe injuries. The same freedom that a motorcycle offers also adds risk because you are less protected than you would be in a car or truck.

With so many motorcycle clubs and charity ride events held in Newark, motorists in the area should be aware of their surroundings and the increased chance of more motorcycle riders on the road. These clubs have a huge social component associated with them, so it will be common to encounter many motorcycles riding together. Charity rides raise money for many local organizations, and riders should be able to give back without fear of injury.  If you have been injured seek the help of a New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer who may be able to help you determine exactly how much your case is worth.

Motorcycle Crash Statistics

According to the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts, there were 4,462 fatalities as the result of a motorcycle accident as well as 90,000 injuries in 2009. Of those fatalities, 59 of them were in New Jersey between January and September as reported by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

As you can see in the above graph, there were far more fatalities involving an individual over the age of 40. The NHTSA also reported that of all motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents, 22 percent of them did not have a valid motorcycle license. That means that around 1 out of every 4 motorcyclist killed in an accident did not have a license to operate the bike.

The report went on to explain that 35 percent of all motorcyclists involved in accidents were speeding compared with only 23 percent of passenger car drivers. Motorcycles are also more likely to be involved in a fatal accident with a fixed object as opposed to another vehicle. 24 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents in 2009 occurred when the motorcycle crashed into a fixed object such as a tree or structure, compared to 20 percent involving passenger cars and 18 percent involving trucks.

Compared with other vehicle drivers, motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were the most likely to have previous convictions on their driving records. This was especially true when looking at prior speeding sentences.

Of the 61 motorcycle riders killed in New Jersey in 2009, 27 percent of them had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. Nationally, 42 percent of motorcycle riders killed were legally drunk at the time of the accident.

As illustrated above, 36 percent of individuals killed in the 35 to 39 age group were legally drunk, 41 percent of those 40 to 44 were, and 38 percent of riders 45 to 49 had a BAC of .08 or higher nationally.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as the result of a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced Newark motorcycle accident attorney today to discuss your legal rights and options. Call us at 1-800-455-2746 to set up your free, no-obligation consultation.